Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei speaks to a journalist at his studio, before he head to the Beijing No. 2 People's Intermediate Court for his appeal. AP Photo/Andy Wong.

BEIJING (AP).- Chinese authorities are revoking the business license of a design company associated with famed dissident artist Ai Weiwei.

A posting on the blog of legal consultant Liu Xiaoyuan said the district commercial affairs department had informed Ai on Sunday that it was pulling the license of Fake Cultural Development Ltd. for failing to re-register. A copy of the department's letter was posted to Liu's blog.

That followed a court's ruling on Thursday denying Ai's appeal of a $2.4 million fine against the company for alleged tax evasion. Ai claims the charges were fabricated and won't pay the $1.1 million balance on the fine, although authorities have confiscated the company's legal documents.

Ai was detained without explanation for three months last year, apparently as punishment for his political activism.